When the Amphio team first visited the Fondation Louis Vuitton in 2013, construction of Frank Gehry’s now iconic landmark was still under way. Although there wasn’t a roof, we learnt about the Fondation’s well-formed vision to build a space that would promote creation to a broad public.

To turn this vision into reality, Amphio, Reciproque and the Fondation have partnered to develop a series of iOS, Android and web apps that encourage young people to interact with the gallery – before, during and after their visit.

Apprentice Architect

The Fondation wanted to ensure that a visit included something for all family members and the idea for a kids app was born. Amphio approached the brief determined to create a product that doesn’t distract children but equips them to be in control of their own gallery experience.

The result was Apprentice Architect, an iPad app that takes children on a journey throughout the gallery as an architect. Using specially-designed 3D tools, games and quizzes, the app lets children learn how the building functions and sketch their own designs. The app was launched with the opening of the building, available on iPads in the gallery or to download from the App Store.

‘Amphio has been an amazing partner to work with, constantly astounding us with the quality of their ideas, their design and engineering skills and their willingness to respond to our ideas and concerns, always with the end user, the child, in mind’

– Sophie Durrleman
Executive Director, Fondation Louis Vuitton

The reactions from kids, families and schools have been overwhelmingly positive. In 2017 we took a new step to open up access beyond the building by releasing Apprentice Architect Mini – a mobile-first version on the FLV website, App Store and Google Play.

Lucky Vibes

The Fondation noticed that despite high activity of 18–30 year-olds on social platforms, the number of visits to the building from the same age group was lower. Amphio was commissioned to develop concepts that help translate digital activity into foot traffic.

We chose to focus on music as it was a shared interest of our target users and partners. We tested a multi-player DJ prototype for use in the building but we quickly learnt our audience wanted a game that they could play themselves, anywhere and anytime.

The final product was Lucky Vibes, an iOS & Android game that challenges users to play songs by surfing sound waves in the sky above the gallery. The player has to steer clear of floating obstacles to unlock four energetic levels inspired by the dynamic architecture and life at the Fondation.

The game has been successful in turning gamers into visitors. We designed the experience so the Fondation can run competition days in the game and award top scorers with prizes such as tickets to exhibitions. The competitions give users a reason to return to the app and enables the Fondation to connect audiences with real events.

Working together with a diverse set of partners combined with regular user testing has helped to bring the Fondation’s digital initiatives to life and engage a broader public, in Paris and internationally.